Cheat Sheets
Quick reference guides for effective AI use. Copy these templates, customize them for your needs, and build your personal prompt library.
How to use this page
- •Pick a section based on what you're trying to do today.
- •Copy prompts directly into your AI assistant and personalize them.
- •Come back often as your skills grow; these are meant to be reusable patterns.
Prompt Patterns
Reusable templates for common AI tasks. Copy, customize, and use these proven patterns.
Pro tip: Use when you need expert-level output with self-correction
You are a [role/expert] with expertise in [domain].
Your task: [specific task description]
Context: [audience, constraints, format requirements]
Examples (if needed): [show 1-2 examples]
After completing the task, critique your own response and identify one way to improve it.Pro tip: Helps AI show its work and catch logical errors
[Your question or problem]
Let's think through this step by step:
1. First, [step 1]
2. Then, [step 2]
3. Finally, [step 3]
Based on this reasoning, [conclusion]Pro tip: Build quality through multiple refinement cycles
[Initial request]
[After receiving response:]
"That's a good start. Now refine it by: [specific improvement 1], [specific improvement 2], and [specific improvement 3]."
[Continue iterating as needed]Pro tip: Generate diverse ideas by forcing different viewpoints
I need ideas for [problem/challenge].
Please provide ideas from three different perspectives:
1. As a [perspective 1, e.g., "creative designer"]
2. As a [perspective 2, e.g., "practical engineer"]
3. As a [perspective 3, e.g., "business strategist"]
For each perspective, give one concrete, actionable idea.Pro tip: Create focused summaries for any content type
Summarize the following [article/document/meeting notes] in [format]:
[Paste content]
Requirements:
- Length: [word count or bullet points]
- Focus on: [key themes or topics]
- Audience: [who will read this]
- Tone: [professional/casual/academic]Pro tip: Improve writing quality without losing your voice
I've written the following [type of content]. Help me improve it while maintaining my voice:
[Paste your draft]
Please:
1. Identify 3 areas that need improvement
2. Suggest specific revisions for each
3. Keep my casual/professional/[your] tone
4. Maintain the original message and intentPro tip: Master new concepts through structured explanation
I want to understand [concept/topic].
Please:
1. Explain it in simple terms (like I'm [age/background])
2. Provide a real-world analogy
3. Give me 3 practical examples
4. Suggest one hands-on exercise I can do to reinforce this
If I'm confused, I'll ask follow-up questions.Responsible AI Checklist
Use this checklist before applying AI to important tasks or decisions.
Pro tip: Consider HIPAA, FERPA, NDAs, and company policies
Does this task involve confidential, personal, or proprietary information that shouldn't be shared with an AI tool?
Pro tip: Higher stakes require more verification and human oversight
What are the consequences if the AI is wrong? Is this a high-stakes decision (hiring, medical, legal, financial)?
Pro tip: AI can amplify historical biases in training data
Could this AI application disadvantage certain groups? Does it involve human judgment about people or opportunities?
Pro tip: Never trust AI output without verification, especially for critical tasks
How will I verify the AI's output? Do I have the expertise to catch errors? Is there a human review process?
Pro tip: Many contexts require disclosure of AI assistance
Should others know AI was involved? Am I required to disclose AI use (academic, professional, legal contexts)?
Pro tip: Check before using AI for work-related tasks
Does my organization have an AI use policy? Have I checked what's allowed and what requires approval?
Pro tip: Enterprise versions often have better data protection
What happens to the data I input? Will it be used for training? Can I delete it? Am I using the right version (e.g., Teams vs. consumer)?
Pro tip: Always have an alternative approach ready
If the AI fails or provides poor results, what's my backup plan? Am I overly dependent on this tool?
AI Project Planner
Template for planning your first AI mini-project.
Pro tip: Example: 'Create a 5-minute podcast script about urban gardening'
What specific problem am I solving or outcome am I creating? Be concrete and measurable.
Pro tip: Define clear, observable outcomes
How will I know this project succeeded? What does 'done' look like?
Pro tip: Check tool availability and costs before starting
Which AI tools will I use? (ChatGPT, Claude, Midjourney, etc.) Are they free or paid?
Pro tip: Start small and build consistency
How much time can I realistically dedicate? Break it into sessions (e.g., 3 sessions of 30 minutes).
Pro tip: Break the project into manageable chunks
List 3-5 concrete steps to finish this project. Make each step actionable.
Pro tip: Anticipate obstacles and plan workarounds
What could go wrong? How will I handle setbacks or unexpected results?
Pro tip: Focus on skill development, not just deliverables
Besides the final output, what do I want to learn from this project?
Pro tip: Reflection deepens learning and builds momentum
Who will I share this with? How will I document what I learned?